Monthly Archives: December 2012

In partnership with the Samoan people, NOAA has just announced the establishment of a new National Marine Sanctuary in American Samoa. Fagatele Bay in American Samoa had previously been established as a National Marine Sanctuary (one of only 14 such sanctuaries, along with the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, encompassing the Northwest Hawaiian Islands), however, this new sanctuary dramatically enlarges the protected area. The largest addition comes via a huge, square protected area around Rose Atoll, but includes several other additions. Just to put the size of the sanctuary into perspective, with these latest additions it is slightly larger than the state of Maryland.Especially significant is the addition of a large fraction of the waters surrounding Ta’u Island, which is home to some of the largest, oldest tropical corals in the world. One especially large Porites cf. lutea colony measures 7 m (23 ft) tall, 12-17 m (40-56 ft) across, and 41 m (135 ft) around. Based on measured growth rates for the species, this coral is estimated to be at least 360-800 yrs old, but could be much older.See a video of the exciting news here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMqZXfwuJuw&feature=youtu.be… More:

Here’s a bit of tough news for Elos fans. According the Elos USA, the Amercian distrubtion arm of the Italian aquarium equipment manufacturer, the prices on many of the items they offer will be seeing a price increase for 2013. The increases apparently come as no surprise though, at least for the guys at Elos. It is commonplace for prices to increase after Interzoo, the single largest pet trade show in the world. And while prices did increase on Elos products this year, the crew at Elos USA chose to eat those increases in favor of giving a break to customers. Unfortunately, the price increases mean that Elos USA won’t be offering any special holiday discounts for 2012 and they will be increasing the prices on “some of the Elos products sold in the US” for 2013. The price increases are expected to be anywhere between 7-10%, and Elos USA has decided to make the announcement now so that customers an take advantage of the prices as they are, before any increases. This is obviously an exceptional approach to providing customer service, especially in a time where money is tight for most companies. To view the full announcement, please visit the Elos USA blog .

From Outsidetheglassbox.orgPatience is a virtue – PrudentiusReef tanks are not instant art. They are mini eco systems that take a bit of time to become stable and trying to rush things is generally a recipe for disaster. We can all understand the excitement about wanting to do things quickly, but since the animals we keep are alive and dependent on a glass box for everything they need, it seems they deserve the consideration of a stable home.… More:

Ret Talbot joins us this week to talk about fisheries developments and the Banggai Rescue project. This week we welcome back Ret Talbot to talk about recent activity in the Hawaiian fisheries, how those decisions are influencing global fisheries and supply chains, the Banggai Rescue project, and the potential impact of all of these developments on the future of our hobby. If you have any interest in the future of marine aquariums, we urge you to listen to this podcast, share it with your hobby friends, and post a link to the podcast in local club and hobby-wide forums. Our access to fish and corals is rapidly reaching a turning point and all hobbyists need to be informed and take action to protect the hobby we enjoy. A big thanks to Ret for dedication to covering these issues, balanced reporting, and generosity with his time. Download the podcast here , or subscribe to our podcasts at iTunes . Also, follow us on Twitter at reefthreads.— Gary and Christine Hawaii Contacts Testimony for the West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area rules package can be submitted via mail or email to the following addresses: Mail: Division of Aquatic Resources 74- 380B Kealakehe Pkwy. Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Email: darkona@hawaiiantel.net Testimony for the Hawaii Administrative Rules for management of aquarium fish collecting on O’ahu can be submitted via mail or email to the following addresses: Mail: Division of Aquatic Resources 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330 Honolulu, HI 96813 Email: Alton.K.Miyasaka@hawaii.gov Support PIJAC PIJAC’s website is www.pijac.org

The Marine Breeding Initiative (MBI) is pleased to announce Martin Moe, Jr. as a speaker at the 2013 Marine Breeder’s Workshop.Moe is one of the pioneers of breeding marine animals as early as 1970 when he developed the basic technology for breeding Florida pompano. He accomplished the first commercial culture of marine tropical fish (Ocellaris Clownfish and Neon Gobies) in a garage in 1972, and over the years has reared more than 30 species of marine tropical fish, including spawning, rearing, and even hybridizing French and Grey Angelfish.We look forward to hearing the latest findings from a true legend in the aquarium community.The tentative date for the Workshop is July 13. More speaker details will be announced soon and tickets for the event will go on sale next week.For more information on the MBI: http://www.mbisite.org/Default.aspx… More:

News from our friends over at ORA today, the release of their first captive bred Assessor randalli. These fish are very popular amongst hobbyists due to their habit of swimming upside down. ORA has been breeding yellow assessors for quite some time but this is their first opportunity to show of the randalli. These fish should be available through ORA retailers in early 2013.… More:

I’ve had many species of filefish over the years. Their behavior, ability to camouflage, and many different colors and patterns make them an interesting addition to any aquarium. They’ve also been known to breed in captivity. Probably the most well known filefish in the hobby is the Bristletail (Aptasia eating) Filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus).

Bristletail Filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus)

The Bristletail Filefish are kept in reef aquariums because they help manage aptasia populations. However, they are 50/50 in a reef system. They may pick on polyps especially zoa’s or acans. This particular species can also change color and patterns to better blend into their environment.

Bristletail Filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus) Eggs

My favorite fielfish by far is the Fantail Filefish (Pervagor spilosoma). The coloration on this fish is spectacular.… More:

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